Apparatuses, computer program product, and method for digital image processing

1 . A digital image processing apparatus, comprising:

an input interface to obtain a first digital image and a second digital image; and

a processing unit coupled with the input interface to define at least one block in the first digital image, to define for each block a search area in the second digital image, the search area being larger than the block, to map the block and its search area to an equal size, to calculate pixelwise errors between each block and its search area that are mapped to an equal size, to collect the errors into a motion register, and to define a motion between the first digital image and the second digital image by utilizing the motion register.

2 . The digital image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the errors are calculated with an error function

E ( i, j )=| B ( i, j )− S ( i, j )|,

where B is the block, S is search area, i and j represent indexes of the block and the search area, and the errors are collected into the motion register by a function

T

⁢

(

i

,

j

)

=

∑

i

=

1

n

⁢

E

i

⁢

(

i

,

j

)

,

where the first digital image is divided into n blocks.

3 . The digital image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit selects the blocks such that the blocks overlap and/or do not cover the first digital image entirely.

4 . The digital image processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit selects the blocks with feature detection.

5 . The digital image processing apparatus of claim 1 , which further operates for video sequence stabilization, whereby the processing unit defines the motion as a global motion vector obtained with a global minimum in the motion register and cancels the motion between the first digital image and the second digital image.

6 . The digital image processing apparatus of claim 1 , which further operates for video encoding, whereby the processing unit predicts the motion from a global motion vector obtained with a global minimum in the motion register or from a motion map formed on the basis of the motion register, or from at least one local motion vector obtained with a local minimum in the motion register.

7 . An arrangement for digital image processing, comprising:

means for obtaining a first digital image and a second digital image;

means for defining at least one block in the first digital image;

means for defining for each block a search area in the second digital image, the search area being larger than the block;

means for mapping the block and its search area to an equal size;

means for calculating pixelwise errors between each block and its search area that are mapped to an equal size;

means for collecting the errors into a motion register; and

means for defining a motion between the first digital image and the second digital image by utilizing the motion register.

8 . A computer program product for digital image processing, embodied on a distribution medium and comprising:

an input module to obtain a first digital image and a second digital image; and

a computing module coupled with the input module to define at least one block in the first digital image, to define for each block a search area in the second digital image, the search area being larger than the block, to map the block and its search area to an equal size, to calculate pixelwise errors between each block and its search area that are mapped to an equal size, to collect the errors into a motion register, and to define a motion between the first digital image and the second digital image by utilizing the motion register.

9 . An integrated digital image processing circuit, comprising:

an input block to obtain a first digital image and a second digital image; and

a processing block coupled with the input block to define at least one block in the first digital image, to define for each block a search area in the second digital image, the search area being larger than the block, to map the block and its search area to an equal size, to calculate pixelwise errors between each block and its search area that are mapped to an equal size, to collect the errors into a motion register, and to define a motion between the first digital image and the second digital image by utilizing the motion register.

10 . A method for defining motion between digital images, comprising:

obtaining a first digital image and a second digital image;

defining at least one block in the first digital image;

defining for each block a search area in the second digital image, the search area being larger than the block;

mapping the block and its search area to an equal size;

calculating pixelwise errors between each block and its search area that are mapped to an equal size;

collecting the errors into a motion register; and

defining a motion between the first digital image and the second digital image by utilizing the motion register.